By Shaun Brown
Middleweight John Ryder (21-2, 12 KOs) is facing a make or break fight against Sergey Khomitsky (30-12, 13 KOs), says his promoter Eddie Hearn.
The head of Matchroom Boxing believes the January 30 contest is the ideal yardstick to find out whether or not Ryder has what it takes to compete at European and World level.
The two-time British title challenger faces the 41-year-old veteran for the WBA Inter-Continental strap at London’s Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports, knowing that a win could propel him beyond British title level.
“If you beat Khomitsky he’s a gate keeper to fringe world level. If you can beat Khomitsky I think you’re showing you’re a fringe level world fighter. I think John is,” Hearn told Boxing Scene.
A challenge on British soil will hold no fears for Ukraine’s Khomitsky having recently taken the unbeaten scalps of Adam Etches and Frank Buglioni at 160 and 168lbs, respectively, over the last 18 months.
“John’s now at a stage where he doesn’t want an eight or ten rounder,” Hearn said. “We tried to make the Jack Arnfield fight but I’d rather take this fight because the upside is huge. If you beat Arnfield everyone goes ‘Okay well maybe you get a shot at the British.’”
After May's seventh round stoppage setback to British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell, Ryder’s promoter says that this is the ideal fight to banish that loss once and for all and even move past another potential Lonsdale title challenge.
“Things went wrong in the Blackwell fight but Blackwell is improving all the time. He [Ryder] needs that test and we need to find out if 1: Is he good enough and 2: What he’s got left in the tank? And I think this is the perfect fight to do it.”
Boxing Scene then asked Hearn if this fight was indeed make or break for Ryder.
“One hundred percent,” he answered.
“And I think that will motivate him. That will get the best out of him as it does with everyone. This is the make or break fight for John Ryder’s career at European and World level.”
Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 or contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com
